The word "primer"

[EJCMom]

How do you pronounce the word "primer", as in a school book? My cousin, who also homeschools, insists it is pronounced one way, and I think it is pronounced a different way. Do you pronounce it with a long /i/ or a short /i/?

[MamaT]

Definitely long /i/.

[EJCMom]

I forgot to ask if you would mind explaining why you voted the way you did. I always thought it was a long /i/ because the way I understand the phonics rule it would need to have 2 Ms in order for it to be a short /i/. If you voted short /i/ would you mind explaining why it's short and not long? I'm wondering if there's some phonics rule that I'm missing. Thanks!

[ElizabethB]

It should be long i, but common pronunciation here in the U.S. is short i, which makes no sense either phonetically or if you look at the root.

 

The Brits commonly pronounce it long i according to Webster's online dictionary.

[Mrs Mungo]

In the US people generally say it with a short i, in the UK people generally use long i.

 

eta: That's the way it is said, it makes no sense to me whatsoever. Phonetically it should have a long i.

[mo2]

I have NEVER heard it with a short i.

[KristinaBreece]

In the US people generally say it with a short i, in the UK people generally use long i.

 

eta: That's the way it is said, it makes no sense to me whatsoever. Phonetically it should have a long i.

 

I've never heard it pronounced with a short i. :confused:

[katilac]

Add me to the list of people who have never heard it with a short i!

[melissel]

Merriam-Webster says:

 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php?file=primer01&word=primer&text=\%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%88%3C%2Fspan%3Epri-m%C9%99r%2C%20%3Cem%3Echiefly%20British%3C%2Fem%3E%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22unicode%22%3E%CB%88%3C%2Fspan%3Epr%C4%AB-m%C9%99r\

[LizzyBee]

According to Webster, primer with a short i is a small prayer or text- book, while primer with a long i is a material used for priming.

[Unicorn.]

Add me to the list of people who have never heard it with a short i!

 

Me three!

[Lolly]

Short i if used as a reader. Long i if used as a base coat of paint.:D

[Mrs Mungo]

I've never heard it pronounced with a short i. :confused:

 

Really? Did you ever watch Little House on the Prairie? I'm sure they used a short i.

[gardening momma]

Since I started homeschooling I have only heard it pronounced with a short i. I rebel against that, though. It only makes sense to use a long i. First of all, it comes from the Latin word prīmārium (long i). Secondly, it basically has the same basic meaning as paint primer, as in--what comes first, before you do what's next. So I prefer to say it with the long i.

[EJCMom]

According to Webster, primer with a short i is a small prayer or text- book, while primer with a long i is a material used for priming.

 

But then why is it not spelled: primmer? :confused:

[Dawn in OH]

Long i.

 

When the vowel is at the end of a syllable it is long.

 

In order for it to be pronounced with the short i sound it would be spelled primmer.

[SnowWhite]

I'm American, and I learned to pronounce the word as a child from American teachers. Therefore, I say it with a short i, even though I have considered it an exception to the rules of phonics ever since I learned it. I have such respect for the people who taught me to pronounce it that I have always cringed when I heard it pronounced with a long i--- as one would to hear someone pronounce vineyard with a long i. It felt as if the person I was hearing had read the word without experiencing its meaning or having it introduced by a professional.

[gardening momma]

But then why is it not spelled: primmer? :confused:

Because of some stupid American decided to misspell or mispronounce it. :D

[justamouse]

Short i.

 

Long I is something that you put on the walls before you paint.

[Kathleen in VA]

According to Webster, primer with a short i is a small prayer or text- book, while primer with a long i is a material used for priming.

 

This is how I've always used the word. Two different pronunciations mean two different things.

 

ETA: My OED says the same thing: short i for textbook; long i for stuff you use to prepare items for painting.

[LizzyBee]

But then why is it not spelled: primmer? :confused:

 

Because pronunciation does not always follow the rules of phonics. That's why some spelling curricula teach kids to "think to spell." And it's why English can be so hard to learn. :tongue_smilie:

[Scuff]

I've always thought it was long I. Didn't hear it short until using MUS.

[Barb_]

Funny how we're running at 0% for "not sure".

 

Big surprise.:D

[Classical Country Mama]

This is how I've always used the word. Two different pronunciations mean two different things.

 

ETA: My OED says the same thing: short i for textbook; long i for stuff you use to prepare items for painting.

 

Yes, this exactly.

 

Disclaimer # 1: I did not grow up in the U.S., so possibly pronounce a lot of words in my own special way.

 

Disclaimer # 2: Even if I pronounced it prymer instead of primmer, I would immediately begin pronouncing it primmer now, because I have never dared argue with the OED.

[abbeyej]

Short i if used as a reader. Long i if used as a base coat of paint.:D

 

Yep! In school books, it's a short i, but in paint, it's a long i.

[Mrs Mungo]

Disclaimer # 2: Even if I pronounced it prymer instead of primmer, I would immediately begin pronouncing it primmer now, because I have never dared argue with the OED.

 

:smilielol5:

[Beach Mom]

According to Webster, primer with a short i is a small prayer or text- book, while primer with a long i is a material used for priming.

:iagree:That's how we say both of them.

[elegantlion]

According to Webster, primer with a short i is a small prayer or text- book, while primer with a long i is a material used for priming.

 

Short i if used as a reader. Long i if used as a base coat of paint.:D

:iagree: I read a primer during school, while my dh puts primer on the walls.

 

 

But then why is it not spelled: primmer? :confused:

 

Because it's English. :glare: My ds has decided we should all speak Latin, it's easier.

[TKDmom]

I always thought it was a long i, but then I was told that it should be a short i, so I changed the way I say it. It still feels wrong, though...

[wapiti]

I say it with a long i (American), but it's rare that I hear the word pronounced.

 

Once in the past year I heard it pronounced with a short i on TV and it took me several minutes to get my head around that. I assumed the guy was wrong :tongue_smilie:

[dangermom]

Primer with a short i is the book.

Primer with the long i is the paint.

 

Simple!:tongue_smilie:

[sassenach]

I've always thought it was long I. Didn't hear it short until using MUS.

 

:iagree:

[HollyB]

Short i is the only way I've ever heard it (the text).

[kamom]

Short i.

 

Long I is something that you put on the walls before you paint.

 

:iagree:

[WIS0320]

I say primer with a short "i" in regards to books/text. I say the long "i" when talking about paint? That is really weird when I think about it.

[Kathleen in VA]

I say primer with a short "i" in regards to books/text. I say the long "i" when talking about paint? That is really weird when I think about it.

 

 

It is kind of weird, but not any weirder than when we say in'valid for an incapacitated person or inval'id for not valid; read with a long e for present tense and read with a short e for past tense; etc.

[rootsnwings]

In Alabama it's pronounced with a super-long /i/ ;)

[Kathleen in VA]

In Alabama it's pronounced with a super-long /i/ ;)

 

 

Are you sure that's not a short a?;)

[kitten18]

I have NEVER heard it with a short i.

:iagree:

[JudoMom]

Short i if used as a reader. Long i if used as a base coat of paint.:D

 

:iagree:

[sparrow]

According to Webster, primer with a short i is a small prayer or text- book, while primer with a long i is a material used for priming.

 

:iagree:

[Spy Car]

I'm with the crowd that feels the pronunciation for paint under-coatings is different than that of the first-readers.

 

Bill

[Remudamom]

Short i for a book. Long i if painting something.

[Amber in AUS]

I say long but I'm an Aussie :D

[Sasharowan]

I've heard it pronounced both ways and have no clue which is right.

[Mary in VA]

Short i.

 

Long I is something that you put on the walls before you paint.

 

:iagree:

[kalanamak]

Definitely long /i/.

 

That's what you do before painting.

[OLG]

Short 'i' = book

Long 'i' = first coat of paint

[ElizabethB]

Short 'i' = book

Long 'i' = first coat of paint

 

:iagree:

 

I forgot about paint!

 

But, I still think primer the book should be pronounced long i, although I do say it "correctly."

[LaissezFaire]

Well that depends.

 

if you are talking about paint it is a long /i/

 

if you are talking about a book it is a short /i/